Effect of Temperature-Match-Curing on Freeze-Thaw and Scaling Resistance of High-Strength Concrete

As a part of a comprehensive study to evaluate the effects of elevated curing temperatures on hardened concrete properties, four non-air-entrained high-strength concrete (HSC) mixtures were prepared at temperatures ranging from 10 to 35°C. After mixing, 5.5 liters of concrete were placed inside a large polystyrene block to simulate temperature development in HSC structural members. The concrete temperature inside the block was continuously monitored with thermocouples, and collected temperature information was used to simultaneously temperature-match-cure (TMC) a series of compressive strength, scaling, and freeze-thaw specimens. The maximum recorded temperatures ranged from 59 to 69°C, depending on the fresh concrete temperature. Control specimens from each of the four mixtures were cured at room temperature. Based on the amount of residue collected during scaling tests in the presence of 3% NaCl solution, the TMC specimens were 7–63 times less resistant than the control specimens. However, during the freezing and thawing tests, seven of the eight TMC specimens outperformed their respective control specimens.